डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा देश के लिए सबसे ज्यादा अहमियत रखती है और महत्वपूर्ण है। राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा की दुहाई, राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा के विषय में शब्दों का दुरुपयोग, राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा का जामा पहनकर कई गलत चीजों को कहना या गलत कामों को करना मैं नहीं समझता कि पिछले 35 महीनों से जितना इस सरकार ने किया है कभी किसी ने किया हो, जितना इस प्रधानमंत्री ने किया है। सत्य और वाक्य में कितना फर्क हो सकता है, कथनी और करनी में कितना फर्क हो सकता है,जुमलेबाजी और तथ्यों में कितनी बड़ी एक खाई हो सकती है, मैं ये आपके सामने आंकड़ों के आधार पर 5 आयामों में रखना चाहता हूं। आप सब जानते हैं भारतीय सुरक्षा के कई आयाम हैं। मैं संक्षेप में रखने के लिए 5 बिंदुओं को बताऊंगा। से आयाम हैं– पहला– जम्मू–कश्मीर,दूसरा पाकिस्तान–भारत का रिश्ता, तीसरा– नॉर्थ ईस्ट, चौथा– नक्सल, पाँचवा– भारत और चीन के बीच। इन पाँचों आयामों में राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा का महत्व रखते हुए मैं शुरुआत करता हूं माननीय मोदी जी के कुछ वक्तव्यों से, तिथियों के साथ। माननीय मोदी जी उस वक्त प्रधानमंत्री नहीं थे, 11 अगस्त 2013 को उन्होंने कहा था–

फिर उन्होंने मनमोहन सिंह जी की तरफ कहा–

ये तो हुई कथनी, अब कथनी से करनी में चलते हैं, जुमलेबाजी से तथ्यों में चलते हैं। इस सरकार को लगभग 35 महीने हुए हैं। आंकड़े मेरे पास एक–एक तारीख के हैं। 35 महीनों के तुलनात्मक चार्ट देख लीजिए। इस सरकार की तुलना जम्मू–कश्मीर से शुरु करते हैं। 35महीनों में कुल 91 सिविलियन मृत्यु हुई हैं और जवानों की मृत्यु हुई हैं 198, इसकी तारीख हैं– जून से दिसंबर 2014 का, जनवरी से दिसंबर 2015 का, 2016 का और जनवरी से अप्रैल2017 का। Source है – साऊथ एशियन टैरिरिज्म पोर्टल एंड इंडियन आर्मी प्रैस रिलिज। उसके प्रिसिडिंग 35 महीनों में यानि 2011 से 2014 में कुल सिविलियन मृत्यु 50 थी यानि करीब–करीब 55 प्रतिशत थी, 45 प्रतिशत कम थी। आज के मोदी जी के राज के आंकड़ों से55 प्रतिशत ये आंकड़े थे, 45 प्रतिशत कम थी। दुबारा 50 प्रतिशत कम थी जवानों की मृत्यु103, ये वो व्यक्ति हैं जिसने कहा कि

अब बात करते हैं नक्सल की, 35 महीनों की इस सरकार के दौरान 442 सिविलियन मृत्यु, मैं सिर्फ सुकमा की बात नहीं कर रहा हूं, ना कुपवाड़ा, ये बहुत भयानक, दर्दनाक, दयनीय, पीड़ा वाली चीजें हैं। लेकिन मैं आपको आंकड़ों के आधार पर जिसका कोई प्रतिउत्तर हो नहीं सकता, दे रहा हूं। नक्सल में 442 सिविलियन और 278 जवानों की मृत्यु हुई। उससे पहले367 सिविलियन यानि 33 प्रतिशत कम थी पिछले 35 महीनों में और 268 मृत्यु जवानों की थी। एक में 30 प्रतिशत कम और एक में 10 प्रतिशत कम। ये आंकड़ों की होड़ नहीं है, लेकिन एक जवान जब जाता है तो बहुत पीड़ा होती है। आप 56 ईंच छाती की बात क्यों करते हैं बार–बार, आप राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा की दुहाई क्यों देते हैं, राष्ट्रवाद के इतने भाषण क्यों देते हैं? मैं उसकी बात कर रहा हूं। 

अब बात करते हैं नॉर्थ ईस्ट के बारे में– तीसरा आयाम। UPA के 35 महीने में 2011 से 2014के बीच 229 सिविलियन और 47 जवानों की मृत्यु हुई थी। मोदी जी के 35 महीनों में 100 से ज्यादा की वृद्धि हुई है, 344 सिविलियन और ड़बल हुई हैं जवानों की मृत्यु 99। जम्मू–कश्मीर में आंकड़े ड़बल हैं, नॉर्थ– ईस्ट में आंकड़े ड़बल हैं। 229 पहले के आंकड़े, इनके 344, 47 पहले और अब 99। एक में 33 प्रतिशत और एक में 50 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि।

अब बात करते हैं पाकिस्तान के विषय में– पाकिस्तान के विषय में बड़ा भयानक है। माननीय मोदी जी ने चुनाव के वक्त में बोला था, वो आपको याद होगा। UPA के समय के 35 महीनों में470 सीजफायर वॉयलेशन, 85 आतंकवादी हमले थे। मोदी सरकार के 35 महीनों में 1343सीजफायर वॉयलेशन यानि 125 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि और 172 आतंकवादी हमले, 100  प्रतिशत अधिक।

वो अलग बात है कभी आप नाम देते हैं –ऊरी, नगरोटा, पठानकोट, कभी आप जांच पड़ताल के लिए पाकिस्तान से आयोग को बुलाते हैं। आंकड़े डबल से भी ज्यादा है।

अब बात करते हैं चीन की। साबरमती के तट पर झूला झूलना बड़ा अच्छा लगा था। उसके कुछ ही हफ्तों के बाद देखा था आपने क्या हुआ था। एक अच्छा और रोचक शब्दों का जाल बनाया था। आप संसद में पूछते हैं कि चीन के कितने incursion हुए हैं। माननीय मंत्री महोदय हम आपको तारीख देते हैं,

शब्दों में फंसा रहे हैं आपको। मैं आपको वापस मोदी जी के बयानों की तरफ ले जाता हूं।

चीन के विषय में हैदराबाद में इलेक्शन रैली में मोदी जी ने कहा था–

अब आप हमें समझाएंगे कि माननीय मंत्री महोदय जी और माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी केincursion और transgression में क्या फर्क है और कितना फर्क है? शायद फर्क ये है कि पुरानी सरकार होती तो उसको incursion कहा जाता और आपकी सरकार है तो उसेtransgression कहा जा रहा है, क्या यही फर्क है?

और भी रोचक है माननीय गृहमंत्री जी का वक्तव्य. कई अखबारों में भी छपा है, उन्होंने कहा था–

याद रहे झूले के तुरंत बाद transgression ड़बल से भी ज्यादा बढ़ गए हैं। हाफ़िज़ सईद के लिए आपको अपमानित किया जाता है चीन के द्वारा, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर। UNSC के वक्त एक बहुत अपमानित रुप से भारत का विरोध किया जाता है। ये अंतर्राष्ट्रीय डिप्लोमेसी है मोदी जी की और 6 नाम अरुणाचल प्रदेश के बदल दिए जाते हैं।

ढींगरा कमीशन पर पूछे गए प्रश्न के उत्तर में श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि ये चुनचुन कर, जानबूझ कर रिपोर्ट लीक करने की प्रक्रिया इस सरकार की बहुत पुरानी आदत है, क्योंकि प्रतिशोध की राजनीति में इस सरकार की पीएचडी है। और प्रतिशोध की राजनीति में निश्चित रुप से सूझ–बूझ और सोच अंधी हो जाती है। उस अंधेपन में, उस घोर प्रतिशोध की भावना के अंदर आपके पास एक ही चीज होती है कि आप जो चाहें सिलेक्टिविली उसको लीक करें और एक परोक्ष रुप से किसी के ऊपर आक्रमण करें। लेकिन इसे करने के वक्त आप 2-3 चीजें भूल गए हैं और बहुत कानूनी हैं, महत्वपूर्ण हैं और कानून में सही रुप से लागू हों तो खतरनाक भी हैं आपके लिए। एक कि इस रिपोर्ट को पब्लिश करना, प्रसारित करना, प्रकाशित करना किसी भी रुप से हाईकोर्ट के 2 आदेशों द्वारा प्रतिबंद्धित है। वो दो आदेशों की तिथि है– 23 नवंबर2016, 26 अप्रैल 2017। दो या तीन दिन हुए हैं, वही ऑर्ड़र रिपिट हुआ है। तो आप इसे प्रकाशित नहीं कर सकते हैं। तो मैं समझ नहीं पा रहा हूं कि कैसे आपके पास ये पहुंचा है और अगर पहुंचा है तो आपको सलाहाकारों ने क्यों नहीं बताया कि आप इसे प्रकाशित नहीं कर सकता। इस आदेश का एक मुख्य कारण ये था, ये चौंकाने वाली बात है, कि ढींगरा समीति ने तो रॉबर्ट वाड्रा जी को कोई नोटिस ही नहीं दिया था, उनके पास कोई नोटिस नहीं आया है। उससे भी रोचक है– दूसरा नाम आप प्रकाशित करते हैं, श्री बी.एस.हुड्डा साहब का। उनके पास चिट्ठियाँ आई, उन्होंने कहा कि जो आधारित कानून है– एल.के.आडवाणी का निर्णय है उच्चत्तम न्यायालय का, किरण बेदी का निर्णय है। उसके अंतर्गत आपको मुझे 8-B का नोटिस देना पड़ेगा अगर आप मेरे विरुद्ध कुछ होल्ड करते हैं। तो रोचक बात ये है कि ढींगरा साहब ने लिखकर दिया कि हम आपको 8-B का नोटिस नहीं दे सकते। तो अगर आपने 8-B नोटिस नहीं दिया और कोई नोटिस नहीं दिया वाड्रा जी को, तो ये बताएं कृपया करके कि आपने इतने बड़े–बड़े पैराग्राफ कैसे लिख दिए और उनको आप लीक करके प्रकाशित कैसे करवा रहे हैं? उनका कानूनी अस्तित्व क्या है? वो शून्य हैं। Null & Void है।

वैंकेया नायडू के बयान पर पूछे गए प्रश्न के उत्तर में श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि मुझे बड़ा रोचक लगा ये वक्तव्य। कोर्ट का आदेश तो 6 महीने पुराना है, उसका उल्लंघन आप करते हैं और आप कहते हैं कि आप कोर्ट का सहारा ले सकते हैं। मैं ये इनकी बात समझ नहीं पा रहा हूं। कोर्ट का आदेश ही तो है ये। 2 कोर्ट के आदेशों के बाद आप कहते हैं। दो ही व्यक्ति लीक कर सकते हैं– ढींगरा कमीश्न और सरकार। ये निर्णय कर लीजिए कौन कर सकता है।  तो ये लीक किया गया है और मैंने बताया ऐसे संदर्भ में जहाँ किसी को नोटिस नहीं मिला और दूसरे व्यक्ति को एक भी नोटिस नहीं मिला, आपके बारे में कहेंगे और नोटिस देंगे नहीं, नोटिस ही नहीं दिया तो आप लिख कैसे सकते हैं?

The post Dr. Abhishek Singhvi, Spokesperson AICC Addressed the Media in Hindi first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

Slamming the PM for calling the opposition charge about tampering of EVMs a “manufactured debate”, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the government had created the debate by exhibiting disinterest in voter-verifiable paper trail audit (VVPAT).

Singhvi said the Election Commission has again asked the government for money to include paper trail in EVMs, having failed twice earlier. Citing the 15page SC verdict of October 8, 2013, the spokesman accused the government of violating the judgment. He said, “Today , there is no answer, only stunning silence is the answer by the PM.” He said the government should revert to ballot papers or instantly give Rs 3,000 crore to the EC to have EVMs with VVPAT in a few months.

“Why should the government treat it as an adversarial issue? Why is it not possible to revert to paper ballot at least till such time you give one VVPAT accompanying one EVM?
At least till that time, the paper ballot is a tried and tested method,” Singhvi said. He said there were only 58,000 machines with VVPAT against 16 lakh EVMs, adding “it will take nearly 150 years to have VVPAT in all constituencies in India”.

“I would respectfully remind the PM and the ruling party that they are rightfully scared and fearful because fabrication and manipulation may lie somewhere else and that is why they want to bury this issue deep,” he said, responding to Modi’s Bhubaneswar barb that it was a fabricated debate.

The post Cong: Give funds to EC for VVPAT EVMs first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते कहा कि आज हम आपका ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहते हैं- छत्तीसगढ़ के विषय में जहाँ CAG की एक बड़ी दुखभरी रिपोर्ट आई है जिसका संबंध है कृषि और ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में कृषि विकास के लिए जो योजना बनाई जाती है, खर्चे तय किए जाते हैं, उसके विषय में CAGने छत्तीसगढ़ के बारे में अपनी रिपोर्ट में लिखा है और छत्तीसगढ़ विधानसभा में औपचारिक रुप से प्रकाशित हुई है।

इस रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि लगभग हजार करोड़ से ज्यादा का व्यर्थ का व्यय किया गया है। Anicutsअर्थात् छोटे बांध जिससे सिंचाई और भूमिगत जल को बढ़ाने के विषय में नियत लक्ष्य की तुलना में 100 की जगह 30 प्रतिशत काम हुआ – ये CAG की प्रकाशित रिपोर्ट है। 1095 करोड़ का व्यर्थ खर्चा हुआ और ये काम, खर्चा, योजना बनाई गई बिना इसे ध्यान में रखे कि जमीन से संबंधित झगड़े पहले निपटाए जाने चाहिए थे, मुआवजा वाले मामले पहले निपटाए जाने चाहिए थे। कॉन्ट्रैक्टर के द्वारा दी गई समय सीमा के अंदर वो बहुत फीट होनी चाहिए थी। इन सब विषयों का उल्लंघन हुआ है। अंत में टिप्पणी करते हुए CAG ने कहा-

 “Concerned Department neither resolved with these bottlenecks to ensure completion nor assessed the damage to old structures and foundations of the anicuts”.

ये आखिरी वाक्य बड़ा मजाकिया भी है कि आपने हजार करोड़ तो खर्च किए और व्यर्थ खर्च किए। 30प्रतिशत काम किया यानि 70 प्रतिशत काम नहीं किया। लेकिन इन सब घपलों के साथ-साथ जो पुराने Anicuts या छोटे बांध थे जो कृषि और सिंचाई के लिए महत्वपूर्ण होते हैं, उनको नुकसान पहुंचाया और जो पुराने स्ट्रक्चर थे उनको भी क्षतिग्रस्त किया।

इसके बाद उन्होंने कहा है- पानी के विषय में जो एक नीति होती है और योजना होती है उसमें भी घपला हुआ है। बार-बार दावा किया मोदी सरकार ने प्रदेशों के विषय में कि हमने जमीन का पानी रिचार्ज किया, जिसको ग्राउंड वॉटर रिचार्ज कहते हैं।

CAG कहता है कि हमने 72 सैंपल उठाए हैं। 72 में से लगभग 48 में कोई ग्राउंड वॉटर रिचार्ज में बढ़ोतरी नहीं पाया गया। यानि कि 80 या 75 प्रतिशत में ग्राउंड वॉटर रिचार्ज का दावा झूठा निकला। 80 प्रतिशत में Irrigation उपलब्ध नहीं था। मैं बाकि CAG की टिप्पणी के विषयों की बात नहीं कर रहा – गुणवत्ता कार्यक्रम था, मेडिकल एजूकेशन का था, उसमें बहुत सारी असफलताएं बताई, CAG ने छत्तीसगढ़ में। मैं उन सब मुद्दों में नहीं जा रहा हूं। असली बात ये है कि CAG ने खुलासा किया है छत्तीसगढ़ के कई ऐसे दांवों के विषय में। आपने पहले भी और मुद्दे देखे हैं वहाँ पर लेकिन हमें पूरी निराशा इसलिए है कि उसके उपर कोई ठोस कदम उठाना सिवाए जुमलों और दावों के, और कुछ नहीं हुआ।

यहाँ 3 बातें महत्वपूर्ण हैं। ये मूलत: ग्रामीण क्षेत्र हैं अर्थात् ये गरीबों फायदे के लिए हैं। यह एक सूखा प्रदेश है,गर्मी बहुत पड़ती है। Irrigation में हजार करोड़ व्यर्थ में खर्च होना, पुराने बांधों को खराब करना और जितने भी मुद्दे होने चाहिएँ उनका पहले से बगैर आकलन किए ग्राउंड वॉटर रिटार्ज के विषय में बनाए गए सारी योजनाएं कागजी निकले और साथ ही जो दावे किए वो झूठे साबित हुए।

एक और संबंधित मुद्दा है केन्रीए य मंत्री श्री एस.पी.सिंह के सचिव के उपर ED अटैचमेंट नोटिस भेजे जाने का, जिसमें प्रश्न उठता है कि इसके लिए जवाबदेह कौन है? एक सचिव जो श्री वी.के सिंह के इतने निकट माने जाते हैं, जो जाने-माने सचिव रहे हैं श्री एस.पी.सिंह, उनको लगभग 21 करोड़ से ज्यादा के लिए ED ने अटैचमेंच का नोटिस भेजा है। तो किसी रुप से पूछताछ के विषय में, विचार-विमर्श के विषय में मंत्रीमहोदय को नोटिस भी नहीं गया है। क्या उनके सचिव श्री एस.पी.सिंह के पास इतनी बड़ी राशी का, जो लिखित EDका नोटिस है, उनके पास इतनी बड़ी राशी मिलना और उनके मंत्री महोदय हैं, निकटतम महानुभाव हैं,उनको एक सूचना के आधार पर भी प्रश्न-उत्तर के आधार पर या नोटिस के आधार पर बुलाया तक नहीं गया,क्या ये आपको संभव लगता है? ED के नोटिस में उनके सचिव को लिखा गया है कि हम 22 करोड़ के विषय में ये अटैचमेंट नोटिस दे रहे हैं। हमारा प्रश्न है कि पूछताछ क्यों नहीं की?

वास्तव में ये कार्यक्षेत्र हैं, आर्मी – रक्षा मंत्रालय का। क्या इससे इनके महानुभाव का कोई संबंध नहीं है और क्या आप, हम और ED समझता है कि ये व्यक्ति इतने प्रभावशाली हैं इस वर्ग, विषय में कि बिना किसी प्रभाव के, बिना किसी प्रोटेक्शन के ऐसा हुआ? मैं समझता हूं कि ये बहुत अजीबो-गरीब है कि कोई तहकीकात नहीं हुई। ये महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्न है।

The post Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi,Spokesperson AICC Addressed the Media in Hindi first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते कहा कि जैसे – जैसे आंकड़े आ रहे हैं, जैसे-जैसे तथ्य प्रकाशित हो रहे हैं उससे साफ जाहिर होता है कि सच्चाई आंकड़ों और तथ्यों में एक तरफ और मोदी जी के भाषणों में – बीजेपी के दावों में जमीन-आसमान का फर्क है, बहुत भारी फर्क है। एक उदाहरण लें- रोजगार का, अभी जिसे quarterly employment survey कहते हैं, तिमाही साईकिल में रोजगार के आंकड़े प्रकाशित होते हैं, उसमें 2-3 चौंकाने वाले आंकड़े आए हैं और एक प्रकार से संख्यात्मक आंकड़े हैं, जो भविष्य के भी संकेतक हैं।

8 मुख्य क्षेत्रों – Manufacturing, Construction, ट्रेड, ट्राँसपोर्ट, एजूकेशन, हेल्थ, हाउसिंग, रेस्तरां एम्पलाईमेंट इत्यादि। यदि इन सबको औसतन लें तो जो पिछले quarter में 77 हजार रोजगारों की संख्या में वृद्धि हुई थी, वो इस बार तुलना में आधी हुई है, लगभग 33 हजार। कुछ क्षेत्रों में सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान हुआ है। उसमें मुख्य रुप से हैं जो Construction का क्षेत्र है, ट्रेड, हाउसिंग, रेस्तरां और एजूकेशन। उसमें जो वृद्धि होनी चाहिए थी – रेट ऑफ ग्रोथ तो दूर absolute terms में आंकड़ें नीचे गिरे हैं। उद्योग में बढ़े हैं, लेकिन औसतन सबमें गिरे हैं, सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान हुआ है वो हाउसिंग और रेस्तरां के क्षेत्रों में। ये सरकारी आंकड़े हैं। IT के क्षेत्र में अच्छे परिणाम दिखे हैं परंतु महिलाओं के रोजगार में फिर गिरावट है। मैं अक्टूबर से दिसंबर तक के quarter की बात कर रहा हूं जहाँ महिलाओं को उपलब्ध रोजगार की संख्या में दुबारा absolute गिरावट है 25000 वर्करस की। अगर आप सभी रोजगार को मिला लें तो जो पिछला quarter था, उसमें लगभग 1.70 लाख रोजगारों की वृद्धि हुई थी, जो इस बार गिरकर सिर्फ 69000 रह गई।

तो ये सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात ये है कि ये जो आंकड़े हैं, ये औसतन हैं। ये इस बात की तरफ इशारा करते हैं कि नोटबंदी का जो दुष्प्रभाव हुआ है, वो धीरे-धीरे करके सामने आएगा। सरकार के कई मुद्दों के आधार पर जैसे Economic mismanagement, नोटबंदी के आधार पर ही नहीं बल्कि व्यापक रुप से देखा जाए। अब हमें आंशिक रुप से दुष्प्रभाव दिखने शुरु हो गए हैं।

एक और रिपोर्ट आंकड़ों की प्रकाशित हुई है सरकार के द्वारा जैसे सरकार आंकड़े जारी करती है हर 2,3,4 महिनों में, तो जो Q-3 था- Current Account deficit जिसे CAD कहा जाता है, जो महत्वपूर्ण मानक होता है, वो बढ़कर लगभग 8 बिलियन डॉलर हो गया है। पिछले quarter के हिसाब से बढ़कर 7.1 बिलियन से अब 7.9 बिलियन डॉलर हो गया है। जो उससे पहले और भी कम था। इसके साथ-साथ FDI जिसको Net FDI कहते हैं, उसके आंकड़े भी प्रकाशित हुए हैं। ये सब 3rd quarter of 2016-17 के हैं, यानि अक्टूबर से दिसंबर के आंकड़े। Net FDI हुआ है लगभग 9.8 बिलियन यूएस डॉलर। जो पहले quarter से कम है, गिरा है। तो ये एक quarter के लिए एक कहानी बता रहे हैं कि जो दावे किए जाते हैं, जो पीठ थपथपाई जाती है, जो क्लेम किए जाते हैं, वो सत्य नहीं हैं। भगवान ना करें ये बढ़कर चिंतनिय हो जाएं।

एक प्रश्न पर कि OBC के अधिकार के संबंध में नई व्यवस्था किए जाने पर कांग्रेस की क्या राय है, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि अभी कोई समस्या है या नहीं ये बाद की बात है। अखबार पढ़ने से कुछ पता नहीं चलता, जब तक औपचारिक प्रस्ताव नहीं आता है। दो चीजें देखनी पड़ती है- बांउडरी क्या है, स्वरुप क्या है, जिसको टर्म ऑफ रेफरेंस कह लीजिए – उसमें इसकी क्या सिर्फ वींडो ड्रेसिंग है? क्योंकि आयोग तो पहले भी रहे हैं। संवैधानिक आयोग की बात कही जा रही है, उसको आप क्या अधिकार क्षेत्र दे रहे हैं, ये देखना पड़ेगा। दूसरा उसको दंड़ करने के, कार्यांवित करने की भी पावर दी जाएगी, सिर्फ सुझाव का अधिकार नहीं होगा। ये मुख्य बिंदु है, जो हमारे सामने आएंगे तब हम टिप्पणी करेंगे। अगर ठोस सुझाव नहीं है तो हम समझेंगे कि ये दिखावट है क्योंकि अलग-अलग मुद्दों पर ऐसे आयोग बनते हैं। सिर्फ एक नया नाम देने से काम नहीं चलेगा।

एक अन्य प्रश्न पर कि सुब्रहमण्यम स्वामी जी ने जो बिल पेश किया है उसमें एक प्रस्ताव दिया है कि गौ-हत्या करने पर मृत्यु दंड का प्रावधान रखा जाए, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि कोई भी सदस्य कोई भी प्रस्ताव दे सकता है। ये हरियाणा से भी प्रस्ताव आया था। शायद आपने देखा नहीं। सब चीजों में एक संतुलन देखा जाता है। प्रस्ताव में सर्वसम्मति होना, बिल पारित होना भारत के सबसे बड़े संसद के स्तर पर, दो अलग-अलग चीजें होती है। प्रस्ताव कोई भी दे सकता है, लेकिन उसके उपर कुछ भी अभी कहना सही नहीं है।

एक अन्य प्रश्न पर कि शिवसेना सांसद ने एयरइंडिया स्टॉफ से जो दुर्वव्यवहार किया है उस पर आप क्या कहेंगे, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि इसमें कोई भी ऐसा व्यक्ति नहीं होगा, किसी भी वर्ग में जो ऐसे किसी चीज का परोक्ष या सीधे रुप से समर्थन करेगा। इसमें दो-3 चीजें जरुरी है और हमें आशा और विश्वास है कि तुरंत होंगी।

पहला- कानून का गति के साथ काम करना, जो पीड़ित हैं, उनका हक है कि कानून उसका साथ दे। उस कानून का परिणाम तुरंत हों और एक अल्प समय में न्याय हो। उसको आप FIR कह लीजिए या चार्जशीट कह लीजिए।

दूसरा – शिवसेना ने कहा कि वो इस विषय में आंतरिक रुप से जांच कर रहे हैं और जल्द से जल्द पार्टी के स्तर पर जो उन्हें एक्शन लेना है वो इसके बारे में निर्णय करें।

तीसरा- अंदर से एक व्यक्ति में एक चेतना जागनी चाहिए, उसको आप पश्चताप कह लीजिए या माफी की चेष्टा कह लीजिए। क्योंकि हम खुद को सांसद कहते हैं उसके लिए अति आवश्यक है कि हम शर्म से अपना माथा नहीं झुकाएं। जहाँ तक एयरलाइंस का सवाल है – ये उनके अधिकार क्षेत्र की बात है और उनके और एमपी के बीच की बात है। जाहिर है कि अगर मैं किसी भी एयरलाइंस के स्टाफ से ऐसा व्यवहार करुंगा और एयरलाइंस कोई ऐसी नीति बनाती है, तो मुश्किल होगा उस नीति का विरोध करना।

The post Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson AICC Addressed the Media- In Hindi first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

The post Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, MP and Spokesperson AICC Addressed the Media first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

Abhishek Singhvi said I want to refresh your memory little bit down memory lane, we can understand Mr. Natwar Singh’s peak and the underlying antagonism which is the subtext of this proposed Book but we ask through you the public domain – what was the alternative with the UPA-I government, with the Congress party in the light of what has been written in the Volcker Report – a purely international body in the light of what has been written by a very-very independent high powered one person authority RS Pathak authority.

 So I want to refresh your mind and memory to tell you that when the UPA-I government took and the Congress party took an uncompromising stand – it was a clearly principled stand when Mr. Natwar Singh was asked to resign from the Council of Ministers and of course later from CWC. You remember that we had both in the government and in the party no option but to take serious cognizance of the extremely serious findings of the so-called Volcker committee to investigate the so-called UN Oil for Food programme. India was among the leading democracies that took action on that report and just to remind you further that the Volcker committee report said on 27.10.2005 – a report with no connection with India or the Congress Party or the government that “Shri Natwar Singh’s family were non-contractual (corrupt)  beneficiaries of the Oil for Food programmes”. It went on to say that Natwar Singh, his son Jagat Singh and Jagat’s childhood friend AndaleebSehgal were associated with a company called Hamdan Exports which acted as an intermediary for illegal sales of oil to a Swiss firm named Masefield AG. In return for these illegal sales, Masefield paid kickbacks (termed ‘surcharge’) partly to Saddam Hussein’s regime because they were doing illegal oil export and partly to Natwar Singh and others who facilitated these exports. It was alleged that such kickbacks were the way in which further by sharing these kickbacks Mr. Saddam Hussein secured support from politicians around the world like Mr. Natwar Singh to oppose and to lobby against US policies in Iraq and the Middle East. This is not me, it is the Volcker report. Now it did not end there. This is the international level. It is a detailed report. It has got tabled III and this table talks of non-contractual beneficiary in Mr. Natwar Singh named in connection with 4 million barrels of oil allotted to Masefield AG etc.

 It went further and in August 2006 i.e. the next year, a former Supreme Judge, a former CJI and a former Judge of the International Court of Justice universally respected man Shri RS Pathak was appointed to what is known as one-man high powered authority or enquiry authority. He wrote a report of 110 pages which has 22 annexure and it was handed over to the Prime Minister of that time. It details how so this is further corroboration by a judicial element a details how Mr. Andaleeb Sehgal a known friend of Mr. Jagat Singh and Mr. Aditya Khanna who is related to Mr. Natwar Singh are supposed to have received financial pay offs by getting oil coupons further based on the recommendation letters of Mr. Natwar Singh. The Pathak report found that Natwar Singh and his son misused their position and in turn they said that these persons Sehgal and Khanna in particular passed the contracts on to Swiss oil company Masefield AG. On these coupons the company drew oil, the number of barrel matches with that of the Volcker. Because the Swiss company drew oil through illegal sources, they paid commission, they paid 5 cents per barrel and the total commission received by Sehgal and Khanna in one transaction was US$ 1,46,000 and even they said that the division was in the ratio of 4:1. Now these are important facts, that are not to be brushed aside, you can understand why in the public interest there was not only one option for the Congress party which incidentally was completely exonerated by the Pathak committee report.  It was found to be entirely an individual enterprise and adventure of Mr. Natwar Singh and family. And there was therefore no option but to take the action which was taken.

 UPSC ISSUE

 Shri Singhvi said I also want to spend a couple of minutes with you to point out that it is most unfortunate and we condemn this that the government is playing with the lives of millions of aspirants to civil services by failing to resolve the issue of civil services aspirant this way or that way. We are not on the merits at the moment. The government is not entitled to dither on this. Our problem at the moment is not even the merit of the decision because the government tells in the Rajya Sabha that “we have got the Verma committee report and are deliberating on it. Very soon this issue will be resolved. I request students to exercise restraint and not to do anything   improper”. It is all very well to say that we request students to exercise restraint; it is all very well that we will resolve the issue. Exams are fixed; I think you are forgetting that the government only has a recommendatory role to the UPSC. The decider of the whole issue is the UPSC. Either you must tell them they must go ahead with that date or tell them there will be reasonable deferment and it cannot be allowed to drift in this manner and therefore, we condemn this absolute, casual and cavalier attitude of the government of India as reflected in the last few days and today.

 INSURANCE BILL  ISSUE- On the question whether the Congress party is speaking in two different voices in the matter of insurance Bill in the light of the statement of Shri Chidambaram,  Shri Singhvi said there is no confusion and no double standard perhaps except in your mind. Let me make it clear that I have myself from this podium and otherwise said in the public domain that

 (1) the Congress party’s draft on 49% expansion has been picked up directly and we are quite flattered – imitation is the best form of flattery

 (2) this very 49% provision and I remind you if something which you are not asking, you are not reminding the people is the subject matter of that para of the report of the committee chaired by Shri Yashwant Sinha – this very thing which is now in the Bill of the BJP led NDA government which is opposed in that paragraph in the report for the same clause the same thing. That should give you an idea of the double standard you are accusing us, this is your double standard

 (3) we are, I told you, not being cussed at all on principle but we find that in the 60 page Bill there are several changes. I will give you one example and you will realize why the Select Committee is the best via media. There are parties in the House which are opposing it altogether, we are not. Since Yashwant Sinha BJP headed Standing Committee rejected it, a Select Committee is the only way out e.g. the Bill has now added something which was not there 49% FII – the nitty-gritty details are forgotten – FII is an extremely mobile non-loyal constituency – FII is like quick sand, it changes all the time. We are not sure at all and it is not part of our Bill that in the Insurance sector you should have uncertainly and quick approach sand approach of FIIs investing. I am not saying right or wrong I am flagging an issue for you. There are other issues which some parties believe should lead to rejection of the Bill which by the way we are not saying. The best way is since now the BJP is over-ruling its own Standing Committee of its former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister which is real classic double standard, the best thing is to go to a Select Committee.

 Shri Singhvi further added I have also supported it yesterday but the nitty-gritty support does not mean that comma, full stop, section x, y or z is all supported, there is no question.

 SUPPLEMENTARY Q.- On a related question on holding a joint session, Shri Singhvi said why we should speculate, the government has its right. Under the constitution they are entitled to do; we will cross the bridge when we come to it. All constitutional parliamentary procedures are not only a possibility, they are a full probability. There is no question. Please do not count everything in terms of majorities or minorities. There are several issues on which you may lose. Does it make our opposition invalid, useless, futile and superfluous? Parliament is a place where you put your points of view and leave it to the nation to judge.Tomorrow a law may be passed with the majority which you have, which can change the fundamental nature of the constitution. That does not make the opposition irrelevant. They may do a joint session. We have a problem in passing matters which are done either against principle or without proper consultation but ultimately it is a question of what the government will do, we will cross the bridge, when we come to it. On Monday parliament will decide, the House will decide, House is entitled to vote for the Bill, against the Bill but it can also vote for a Select Committee. It is House’s property now and there is a Rajya Sabha after the Lok Sabha.

 ASSOCIATED JOURNAL ISSUE – To another question on Associated Journal Press case, Shri Singhvi said I am glad that you asked the question because you have overturned the whole thing. We did not ask for adjournment. I have made it very clear, we are a responsible party, we do not believe in discussing judicial matters in a light hearted manner, my lips are sealed to except to make one sentence and that is that the Hon’ble Court has issued Notice on petitions filed by us – petitions filed by Congress President, Congress Vice President and others – four petitions are there. A notice will be returned as they say in legal parlance on 5th of August which means that the respondent one of whom is a complainant Dr. Swamy and the other is the central government will come and respond. So there is a notice today and that is the law.

JAYALALITA DEMANDING APOLOGY -On the question Ms. Jayalalitha writing to PM Naendra Modi and demanding an unconditional apology from the Srilankan government against objectionable post against CM and PM Modi on the website of Ministry of Defence of Srilanka, Shri Singhvi said frankly I have not seen the content. I do not know the authenticity; if there is indecency of the kind you are saying, then I think democracy must have a certain discipline and one would support.

Sd/-

(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary

Communication Deptt.

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Bill  No.  XX  of  2007

THE PREVENTION OF HOARDING AND PROFITEERING AND PROTECTION OF COMMON MAN THROUGH CONTROL OF PRICES BILL, 2007

A

BILL

to provide for the prevention of hoarding and profiteering in essential commodities of daily use by the common man and control of prices of such commodities to give relief to the common man by constituting a Commission for determination of prices of all consumer goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Prevention of Hoarding and Profiteering and Protection of Common Man through Control of Prices Act, 2007.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force at once and shall remain in force for a period of five years.

AS INTRODUCED IN THE RAJYA SABHA ON 27TH APRIL, 2007.

SERVER 3 BILL 2007/RAJYASABHA\1764RS

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2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “appropriate Government” means in the case of a State the Government of that State and in other cases the Central Government;

(b) “Commission” means National Commission For Price Fixation of Consumer Goods constituted under section 3;

(c) “consumer goods” include all grocery items including wheat, rice and other types of cereals, pulses, sugar, edible oils and ghee, salt, soaps and detergents and such other items which are used for daily use by common public but does not include seasonal vegetables and fruits, finished goods or services;

(d) “dealer”  means any person carrying on the business of selling any scheduled article and includes a producer, manufacturer, an importer, a wholesaler or retailer;

(e) “hoarding” means accumulating consumer goods or stocks meant for sale with a view to cornering such goods so as to raise their prices by creating a short supply or artificial shortage or by bringing them for sale at prices which are very high and are not competitive;

(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(g) “profiteering” with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means the sale by a dealer of any scheduled article at a price or rate higher than that fixed under this Act;

(h) “retail price” means such price at which the consumer goods shall be sold in retail and such price shall include all taxes levied on such goods;

(i) “Scheduled article” means an article specified in the First Schedule of this

Act.

3. (1) The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute the “National Commission for Price Fixation of Consumer Goods” for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Commission shall consist of,—

(a) a Chairperson to be appointed by the Central Government having such qualifications and experience as may be prescribed;

(b) four members to be appointed by the Central Government who are experts in the field of commodities;

(c) four members to be nominated by the State Governments by rotation in alphabetical order.

(3) The Commission may associate with itself any person whose assistance or advice it may desire in complying with any of the provisions of this Act and a person so associated shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Board relevant to the purposes for which he has been associated but shall not have the right to vote.

(4) The terms of office of the members and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by the members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(5) The Commission shall have a Secretariat consisting of such number of officers and staff, as may be prescribed, to assist it in carrying out its functions.

4. (1) The Commission shall, by order notified in the Official Gazette, fix the maximum price or rate of any consumer good shown as scheduled article in this Act, which may be charged by a dealer or the minimum price which is to be paid by a purchaser.

Definitions.

Constitution of a Commission.

Functions of the Commission.

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(2) The Commission may, before fixing the prices, take into account relevant factors especially,—

(i) the quality of the products;

(ii) the supply and demand of the consumer goods;

(iii) the cost of production;

(iv) the loss during the production;

(v) the prices of accessories or which directly or indirectly affect the price factor of the consumer goods;

(vi) the price and availability of similar products in international market;

(vii) the export potential of the goods;

(viii) any other relevant factor as may be deemed necessary.

(3) The Commission may fix different prices for different consumer goods in different States or regions as per the local production, consumption and availability and other factors.

(4) The Commission shall, from time to time, after taking into consideration the relevant factors revise the prices fixed for different consumer goods.

(5) The Commission shall cause the price structure fixed by it be given wide publicity throughout the country through the print, electronic or through such means as it may deem fit.

5. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, it shall be the duty of the appropriate Government to implement the price structure decided by the Commission within its territorial jurisdiction in the manner it may deem necessary and expedient.

6. (1) The hoarding of and profiteering in consumer goods by any dealer or person is hereby prohibited.

(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

7. (1) Any dealer who profiteers in any scheduled article or consumer goods shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years and also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees and the scheduled consumer goods in respect of which the offence has been committed or such part thereof as the trial court may deem fit shall be forfeited to the appropriate Government.

(2) Any dealer or person found deliberately hoarding any scheduled consumer goods or article shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years and also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees and the hoarded stock of the scheduled consumer goods shall be forfeited to the appropriate Government.

(3) Any dealer who, without reasonable ground refuses to sell any scheduled consumer goods to any purchaser or refuses to sell it at the rate fixed for it by the Commission shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years and also with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees.

8. When any police officer not below the rank of Inspector of Police has reasonable grounds for believing that there has been a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, such officer may, after recording in writing the grounds of his belief, at all reasonable hours enter and search any place where a dealer keeps, or is for the time being keeping, any scheduled consumer goods and seize the goods under this Act.

Appropriate Government to implement the price structure of the Commission.

Prohibition of hoarding of and profiteering in consumer goods.

Power of search and seizure.

Penalty.

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9. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 all offences punishable under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

(2) Any police officer, not below the rank of Inspector of Police, may arrest without warrant any person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or creditable information has been received of his having been involved in any of the offences punishable under this Act.

10. The Central Government may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, add to the schedule any other consumer goods of daily use and thereupon that schedule shall be deemed to be amended accordingly and the consumer good so added shall be deemed to be a scheduled consumer goods within the meaning of this Act.

11. The provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force, but save as aforesaid the provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.

12. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Cognizance of offence and arrest without warrant.

Power to add to the schedule.

Act to have overriding effect.

Power to make rules.

2 of 1974.

THE  SCHEDULE

[See Section 4(1)]

1. Wheat  and Wheat Products;

2. Rice and Rice in husk;

3. Coarse cereals and their products;

4. Pulses and byproduct like besan, etc.;

5. Spices, raw and powder form;

6. Edible oil, butter, vanaspati and desi ghee;

7. Sugar and jaggery;

8. Tea and coffee;

9. Salt;

10. Soaps, detergents and washing powders;

11. Baby food and skimmed milk powder;

12. Paper;

13. Kerosene and other petroleum products;

14. Cement and other building materials;

15. Steel;

16. Coal;

17. Drugs and medicines.

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STATEMENT  OF  OBJECTS  AND  REASONS

Of late, prices of essential consumer goods have increased manifold, which has adversely affected the household budget of the common man. There is resentment and concern on this issue amongst the people, be it the middle class people, salaried class, daily wage earners, and poor and those living below poverty line. The increase in prices is not restricted to seasonal commodities but also to items of daily use. Dal-Roti has become luxury for almost all the households. Sugar and edible oils have also gone out of the reach of the common man. The dealers are selling the products at their whims and fancy. They are creating artificial scarcity of essential goods by hoarding the goods with a view  to profiteering later. There is no check on the pricing of any commodity. No price list is displayed and the poor, downtrodden and illiterate people are exploited by the dealers and retailers. There is an immediate need to have a system in place, which will help in stabilizing the prices of different consumer goods,  that are used by the common man. Hence it has been proposed in the Bill to constitute a commission for the purpose of fixing the prices of all consumer goods to protect the poor, downtrodden and the common masses of the country. Those found guilty of not complying with the price structure prescribed by the Commission and found involved in hoarding and profiteering should be severely punished. This will certainly help in containing the dreaded  mehangai.

Hence this Bill.

ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVI

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FINANCIAL  MEMORANDUM

Clause 3 of the Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission to fix the prices of consumer goods. Sub-clause (5) of  clause 4 directs the Commission to give wide publicity through the print, electronic and other means to the price structure fixed by it. The Bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India. It is estimated that a sum of rupees fifty crore may involve  as recurring expenditure per annum.

A sum of rupees fifty crore may also involve as non-recurring expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.

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MEMORANDUM  REGARDING  DELEGATED  LEGISLATION

Clause 12 of the Bill gives power to the Central Government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Bill. The rules will relate to matters of details only.

The delegation of legislative power is  of normal character.

RAJYA   SABHA

————

A

BILL

to provide for the prevention of hoarding and profiteering in essential commodities of daily use by the common man and control of prices of such commodities to give relief to the common man by constituting a Commission for determination of prices of all consumer goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

————

(Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, M.P.)

MGIPMRND—1764RS(S3)—27-04-2007.

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Highlights of the Press briefing                                   Held at 1530 Hours 10.05.2014

 Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.

 Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi said as the campaign is closing, it is clear that the BJP’s bubbles are bursting and bursting rapidly all over. It is clear that Modiites is fast being recognized as exaggerationists and imaginationists because BJP is now fast discovering that its estimates and numbers are nothing but gas. It is now finding that the so-called wave is a chimera, its so-called regional supporters are vanishing from the South, from the East, from UP – no secular party or secular mindeed party is prepared to support a Modi-led, a BJP-led NDA. Where then will this imaginative Mission-272 figure come from is only a question which Shri Mungeri Lal can answer? That is why the BJP has become more and more frustrated, more and more aggressive, more and more fearful. In Varanasi a party limited by Modi, Modi Limited Party namely the BJP is a victim of its hype. Hence the intemperate and desperate attack on the Election Commission surely, not surely the sign, surely the sign of a big loser preemptively attacking the umpire and also by fudging facts. It is amusing to see one of the allegations made today by a senior BJP leader. As usual, BJP is master in comparing apples and oranges. He claims that the rally in Beniyabagh was disallowed to the BJP but allowed to the Congress. This is worst that apples and oranges. How can there be a comparison when security perceptions, threat perceptions for different parties arise from different considerations – four out of 5 rallies in the same town are allowed for the BJP. A threat perception for a particular area which is assessed first by the Police based on inputs by the Gujarat police and then evaluated by administration DM etc., how can that be the same for the BJP and the Congress or for that matter any other party?

It is the typical propaganda machine of the BJP trying to confuse and confound and certainly the administration is entitled to look through a divisive polarizing tactic of the BJP in wanting to go to a particular location and spot and conflagrate issues. The result of 16th of May is fast getting reflected in advance.  It is getting reflected in the fear and frustration of the BJP, in the increasing shrillness of its attack all because they are trapped as a party within the Prime Ministerial ambitions of one man. They know that they are nowhere near their fake Mission-272. They know that they are nowhere even near the much more moderate figure which a man like Mr. Vajpayee aspired for – whether in 1998 or 1999 and now today to crown it all as campaign ends, they are seeing genuine support, grass root support in Varanasi for Mr. Raul Gandhi – not hired support, not transported support.

 On a question whether the spokesperson has become a spokesperson of Election Commission or Congress party, Shri Singhvi said I am the spokesperson for the Congress party who is pointing out in case you have missed that point that the absolutely baseless without foundation allegations made by the BJP against a constitutional authority are further compounded by today’s statement intended to confuse the nation by comparing party ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ regarding a location.

 To another question on the statement by Shri Rahul Gandhi that 22,000 people will die, Shri Singhvi said that is a different issue let us not mix up issues. There is no question explaining the context. We have heard about it and there is a notice from the EC You can rest assured that the facts are being torn out of context and wrongly reported but we shall set the record comprehensively straight in our reply which we shall share with you shortly.

 On the question of the threat perception, Shri Singhvi said your identity, what you stand for, creates, affects and evaluate the threat perception. We are not living in some kind of an ivory tower in a glass house. We are living in a real world. Have you heard anything something so astoundingly wrong on principle and fact that my threat perception is identical to your perception or identical to her perception, is it possible. We don’t evaluate the threat perception. If you and I start doing it, then the security will be over. Did you ask this question from the BJP in Bihar when they started a mission that there is a threat to the life of their leaders? Is this the same party? This is like telling ‘Head you lose, tail I win’. They will cry if something goes wrong and if any preventive action is taken with regard to the security where it is a three layered security, they also raise hue and cry. This is a typical propaganda machine of the BJP.

 On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on another issue the Chief Election Commissioneer has said that Shri Rahul Gandhi did not violate any code by entering the polling booth, now the BJP says Election Commission being bias in the matter that Shri Rahul Gandhi is not an Engineer who will enter the polling booth and check an EVM, Shri Singhvi said as far as the Election Commission bias is concerned, you take it as a given as far as the BJP is concerned. So long as the Election Commission keeps saying BJP is good, right and excellent in everything, Election Commission is not biased otherwise according to the BJP; Election Commission is always biased. Secondly, they don’t realize that they insult institutional constitutional authorities in India which are the envy and pride around the world. Nobody is saying that the Election Commission is infallible but to attack the Election Commission as fault full of fault in very case where there is disagreement shows the mentality of the BJP in respecting the institutions of this country. Secondly, as far as Shri Rahul Gandhi’s EVM is concerned, I do not think in the middle of election, once the EC route in place, BJP has any locus to try to act as an appellate court and tell you why the Election Commission is wrong. If they want, they wait till the elections and challenge in the court of law and I think you will hear nothing after the elections. Thirdly, the stand is very clear that there has to be voting going on and he was inspecting a dud ineffective or non-functional machine. Now that finding of fact is for the Election Commission to go into not the BJP.

 To a question whether be it treated that after today’s road show of Shri Rahul Gandhi in Varanasi, the Congress party has escalated to number two position, Shri Singhvi said it is known when did the media put us at number two. The people have put us at number one. Today the distance between number one and two have widened.

 To another question on the number 272 Mission of BJP, Shri Singhvi said I did not say that he loses if he does not get 272 I said that 272 is a mission 272 which only lies in the imagination of Mr. Mungeri Lal. As far as the Congress Party is concerned, I am not into figures but I am telling you that the Congress is going to have scintillating victory and the Congress led government will form the government.

 On the question of the Shri Chidambaram’s statement to play constructive role, Shri Singhvi said I don’t think Mr. Chidambaram said that.  I have read his statement carefully. First of all, we are not here to speculate four days before the results. Let us have patience. Secondly, we do not contemplate the possibility of sitting in the opposition. We are strongly, forcefully confidently on our victory, on our path to victory and we have no such negative thoughts. Hypothetical situations arise lonely after numbers are known. Let us speculate on them till they are known.

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THE DESTITUTE, INDIGENT AND NEGLECTED CITIZENS (MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE) BILL, 2007

A BILL to provide for the due care, maintenance and welfare measures to be initiated by the State for those citizens who are destitute, indigent, stricken with poverty or infirmity due to old age, incurable disease or physically challenged ones, and those who are without independent source of livelihood like widows, senior citizens, orphans and underprivileged children and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Destitute, Indigent and Neglected Citizens (Maintenance and Welfare) Act, 2007.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

AS INTRODUCED IN THE RAJYA SABHA ON 27TH APRIL, 2007.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a) “appropriate Government” means in the case of a State the Government of that State and in other cases the Central Government;

(b) “Authority” means the Destitute, Indigent and Neglected Citizens Welfare Authority established under Section 3;

(c) “destitute” in relation to a,—

(i) male who may be physically challenged or unfit for gainful employment or suffering from incurable disease and without any independent source of livelihood or a senior citizen who has become infirm due to old age or chronic ailment and who has nobody to support him; and

(ii) woman who may be a widow, divorcee or unmarried woman who has no relative to support her and who has no independent source of livelihood including livelihood of her minor children dependent on her or any woman stricken with infirmity owing to old age, physical deformity, ailment, mental imbalance and who lives uncared for;

(d) “indigent” means a person who is stricken with poverty, without any means of livelihood or source of income and who subsists on alms received by him after begging;

(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(f) “senior citizen” means any person who has completed sixty years of age;

(g) “underprivileged children” means the deprived children with unknown parentage, abandoned, vagabond or loitering, rag pickers, and neglected children of pavement dwellers, sex worker, jail inmates, mentally ill or retarded women and who subsist on begging and petty offences;

(h) “widow” means an adult female whose husband has died after her legal marriage.

3. (1) The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Destitute, Indigent and Neglected Citizens Welfare Authority for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable and to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

(3) The headquarter of the Authority shall be at Jaipur in the State of Rajasthan.

(4) The Authority shall establish its branches in all the States and Union Territories at conspicuous places.

4. (1) The Authority shall consist of,—

(a) the Minister-in-charge of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — ex-officio Chairperson;

(b) a Vice-Chairperson with such qualifications as may be prescribed, to be appointed by the Central Government;

(c) five members of Parliament of whom three shall be from Lok Sabha and two from the Rajya Sabha to be nominated by the respective Presiding Officers of each House;

(d) three members representing the Union Ministries of Women and Child Development, Planning and Finance respectively;

Definitions.

Establishment of the Authority.

Composition of the Authority.

(e) not more than four members to be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Governments of the States, by rotation in alphabetical order, to represent the Governments of the States;

(f) three members to be appointed by the Central Government from amongst the Non-Governmental Organisations working for destitute widows, senior citizens and underprivileged children.

(2) The term of office, remuneration and other facilities of the Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson and members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(3) The Authority shall follow such procedure for holding its meeting and the quorum for such meeting shall be such as may be prescribed.

5. (1) It shall be the duty of the Authority to promote by such measures, as it thinks fit or appropriate, welfare measures for those citizens who are destitute, indigent, stricken with poverty or infirmity due to old age, incurable disease or physically challenged ones and for those who are without source of livelihood such as widows, senior citizens, orphan and underprivileged children covered under this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the Authority shall, —

(a) maintain district wise register of the destitute, indigent and neglected citizens including the physically challenged ones, senior citizens, neglected women who may be widows, divorcee and who do not have anyone to support and the orphans and other street children;

(b) work out plans and formulate schemes for the welfare of the citizens covered under this Act;

(c) establish adequate number of senior citizen homes for board, lodging and provision of necessary facilities of daily life for the needy senior citizens;

(d) establish shelters or rehabilitation centres for the needy physically challenged citizens, orphans and street children and widows with provision of board, lodging and other necessities of daily life therein free of cost;

(e) work out scheme to provide free medical aid and means of entertainment in the senior citizen homes and shelters and rehabilitation centres established under this section.

(f) take such other measures not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as the Authority may deem necessary for the welfare of the citizens covered under this Act.

6. The appropriate Government shall, on the recommendation of the Authority, provide the destitute women, indigent and needy senior citizens covered under this Act, the following facilities namely:—

(a) monthly allowance of two thousand rupees to every indigent and needy senior citizen in such manner as may be prescribed;

(b) monthly allowance of two thousand rupees to every destitute woman and if such a woman has dependent children to support a monthly allowance of three thousand rupees in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that if any woman covered under this Act either gets gainful employment or remarries, the facilities and monthly allowance being provided to her shall be discontinued and withdrawn from the date she gets the gainful employment or remarries as the case may be.

(c) residential accommodation wherever necessary, free of cost;

Functions of the Authority.

Facilities to the destitute women, indigents and senior citizens by the appropriate Government.

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(d) free educational facilities including technical and vocational education to the dependent children;

(e) free medical care;

(f) gainful employment;

(g) vocational training and assistance for self employment;

(h) such other facilities as may be necessary from time to time.

7. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the local police of every district headquarter shall keep a record of senior citizens, old widows and physically challenged ones residing within its jurisdiction in such manners and with such details, as may be prescribed.

(2) It shall be the duty of the area Station  House Officer or any Police officer who for the time being in charge of local Police Station or Police Post, as the case may be, to compulsorily,—

(a) verify the character and antecedents of the domestic servant or domestic help engaged or provided to the senior citizen or lonely old couple or old widow or physically challenged citizen residing within his jurisdiction in such manner as may be prescribed; and

(b) provide adequate security to the citizens referred to in para (a) above.

8. The Central Government shall, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, provide adequate funds to the Authority, from time to time, for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

9. The Authority shall submit an Annual Report in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, of its activities of the welfare measures undertaken for the purposes of this Act to the President of India who shall cause the report to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament along with action taken thereon by the Central Government as soon as it is received.

10. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.

11. The provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith, contained in any other law for the time being in force, but save as aforesaid the provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.

12. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Miscellaneous provisions.

Central Government to provide funds.

Annual Report of the Authority.

Power to remove difficulty.

Act to have overriding effect.

Power to make rules.

STATEMENT  OF  OBJECTS  AND  REASONS

There are crores of destitute, indigent and neglected citizens consisting of widows, senior citizens, orphans and other underprivileged children, physically challenged ones and quite a large number of them live uncared for in our Country. They are stricken with infirmity particularly due to old age or physical deformity or serious and prolonged ailment and many of them suffer from mental imbalance. Majority of such citizens have no means to support themselves and they are ill treated by people at large. Unfortunately, the number of such citizens is increasing day by day. In a welfare state like ours it is the solemn duty of the state to take care of such destitute, indigent and neglected citizens. For this purpose an independent Authority will have to be established with sufficient funds and this Authority will be entrusted with the main function of formulating welfare schemes for such hapless citizens and implement them with sincerity and zeal.

Hence this Bill.

ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVI

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FINANCIAL  MEMORANDUM

Clause 3 of the Bill provides for the establishment of the Destitute, Indigent and Neglected Citizens Welfare Authority. Clause 4(2) provides for remuneration and facilities to the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and members.  Clause 6 proivdes for certain facilities to be provided to the destitute women, indigent and senior citizens. Clause 8 makes it obligatory for the Central Government to provide adequate funds to the Authority for the purposes of the Bill. The Bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India. It is estimated that a sum of rupees ten thousand crore may involve as recurring expenditure per annum.

A sum of rupees five thousand crore may also involve as non-recurring expenditure.

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MEMORANDUM  REGARDING  DELEGATED  LEGISLATION

Clause 12 of the Bill gives power to the Central Government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Bill. The rules will relate to matters of details only.

The delegation of legislative power is of normal character.

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RAJYA   SABHA

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A

BILL

to provide for the due care, maintenance and welfare measures to be initiated by the State for those citizens who are destitute, indigent, stricken with poverty or infirmity due to old age, incurable disease or physically challenged ones, and those who are without independent source of livelihood like widows, senior citizens, orphans and underprivileged children and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

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(Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, M.P.)

MGIPMRND—1762RS—27-04-2007.

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